Articles by Indranil De

The share of resources distributed in the stimulus package to the farmers and labourers is very less as compared to other stakeholders of the economy. As public policy is influenced by bargaining power through intense lobbying, low distribution of resources towards farmers and labourers could be due to their low bargaining power. Collective action is required to bargain or lobby for resources. The farmers are adversely placed with regard to collective action because the transaction cost of organising collective action is higher but their ability to bear the cost is lower. The industry is placed in a much better position on both these counts. The inability of farmers to provide critical minimum resources for collective action may further weaken their bargaining position.

Women residing in slums and slum-like settlements of Bhuj are majorly employed in traditional activities such as bandhani, embroidery, fall beading, etc, and only to a much lesser extent in emerging opportunities, including non-farm casual labour and jobs in the private and public sectors. Women’s preference is overwhelmingly tilted towards the former employment opportunities as compared to the latter, due to flexibility of work and possibility of working from home, given certain sociocultural constraints and poor working conditions in other sectors. Moreover, limited access to capital for women’s own enterprises ensures that the chances for expansion and formalisation of their small enterprises are minimal.

Interstate variation in demand for the universal health insurance scheme for the poor is explained by the variation in healthcare infrastructure. In order to build demand for health insurance it is necessary to address the supply-side as well as design an insurance scheme based on a realistic assessment of the paying capacity of the poor.